Sharapova handed US Open wild card
In a move that emphasises the lack of unity among tennis’s governing bodies, the US Open has issued a wild card to controversial former champion Maria Sharapova.
The decision contradicts the stance taken by the French Tennis Federation in May, when Sharapova was refused special treatment at Roland Garros. While the All England Club never had to make a call, owing to Sharapova’s decision not to request a wild card, it was common knowledge that she needed to go through the qualifying tournament at Roehampton.
The Sharapova wild-card debate got a huge amount of attention during the spring, when many of her peers in the locker room suggested that she should not be given any help with her comeback from a 15-month doping ban. Sharapova also had a number of powerful supporters – including Head chief executive Johan Eliasch and WTA chief executive Steve Simon – who felt that she was being singled out for unfairly harsh treatment because of her high profile.
The views of Sharapova’s European critics – who included highranking players like Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki – became further entrenched when Sharapova’s agent, Max Eisenbud, labelled them “journeymen”.
The US Tennis Association always looked as if it might take a less hawkish position and it confirmed that in a statement: “Her suspension under the terms of the tennis anti-doping programme was completed and was therefore not one of the factors weighed in our wildcard selection process... additionally, Sharapova has volunteered to speak to young players at the USTA National Campus about the importance of the anti-doping programme.”
Meanwhile, Serena Williams has revealed that she intends to return to action at January’s Australian Open – three months after she is due to give birth to her first child.
“It’s the most outrageous plan,” Williams told Vogue. “That’s, like, three months after I give birth. I’m not walking anything back, but I’m just saying it’s pretty intense.”
Williams also said she feels some of the criticism she receives for a confrontational attitude on the court is partly due to her race.
“I feel like people think I’m mean,” she said. “Really tough and really mean and really street. I believe that the other girls in the locker room will say, ‘Serena’s really nice.’ But Maria Sharapova, who might not talk to anybody, might be perceived by the public as nicer. Why is that? Because I’m black and so I look mean?”
Elsewhere, Judy Murray has admitted her son, Andy, has struggled as he prepares to lose the world No1 spot. “The last two years have taken a lot out of him,” she said at the Edinburgh Book Festival.
Johana Konta has beaten Kiki Bertens 6-3 6-3 to reach the third round of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.